333 days ago

January in Kāpiti: Warmest place in Central NZ

Murray from Paraparaumu

Kāpiti-Horowhenua was the warmest place in central New Zealand, and was very dry and sunny, although a little cooler than normal as was most of the country.

Our daily average maximum temperature was 22.2C, one degree cooler than the longtime average and two degrees cooler than January 2024. Most unusually, temperatures in eastern regions such as Wairarapa, Marlborough and Nelson were lower than ours. It was as if east and west had been reversed. Persistent southerlies were likely responsible and affected these regions to a greater extent than in Kāpiti, but did cause our chilly mornings and resulted in five days that did not reach 20C. The highest temperatures of just under 29C were experienced over the last weekend.

Most of the month experienced drought conditions with virtually no rain. Only in the first and last weeks was there some rain with most of the around 55mm falling on the last few days. The historic average is 45mm.

Sunshine amounting to the equivalent of 20.5 sunny days was two above average and the same as January 2024, offering some compensation for December’s lowest in a decade.

February’s weather is usually very similar to January’s, but with signs of autumn becoming evident as the sun lowers in the sky.

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More messages from your neighbours
10 hours ago

The Summer Kiwi Quiz is back by popular demand

Summer Kiwi Quiz - 2026

Grab a copy of your local Stuff newspaper between 1 Jan - 28 Jan and participate in the Summer Kiwi Quiz! Test your knowledge, answer the daily New Zealand based questions, and find out how well you know our beautiful country!

Each correct answer will get you one entry into the draw to WIN 1 of 5 Ooni Karu 2 Portable Pizza Oven bundles, valued at $1024! Each bundle includes: an Ooni Karu 2 Multi-Fuel Portable Pizza Oven, Ooni Karu 2 Carry Cover, Ooni 12" Perforated Peel, Ooni Digital Infrared Thermometer and an Ooni Cookbook: Cooking with Ooni. The more answers you enter correctly, the higher your chance of winning. For more information and to submit your answers, click here

The Team at Stuff
Enter Here

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3 days ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 10.1% Yes! New Year, New Me
    10.1% Complete
  • 19.5% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    19.5% Complete
  • 70.4% Nah - not for me
    70.4% Complete
867 votes
1 day ago